Grate-bar



1N0 Model.) J. REAGAN.

GRATE BAR.

N0.- 594,904. Patented De0.7,1897

I I I I I I I I I TOR . ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES REAGAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GRATE-BAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,904, dated December 7, 1897. Application filed January 16, 1897. Serial No. 619,482. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES REAGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grate-Bars and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement on Letters Patent granted to me August 18, 1896, Nos. 566,093 and 566,094, in which a sesies of movable choppers and intervening longitudinal apertured grate bars are employed, the office of the grate-bars being to support or bridge the upper part of the fire while the lower portion is being shaken by a slight vibration of the choppers.

The object of my present invention is to provide a hollow bar having a curved upper surface and apertures for the admission of air to the fire. By allowing air to circulate freely through the interior of the bar all danger of its burning out or becoming warped or twisted by the heat of the fire is avoided, and at the same time sufficient air is permitted to pass through the orifices at the top and into the fire to insure a thorough combustion of the fuel in the same manner as the hollow' choppers.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a grate embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. through the longitudinal center of same. Fig. 4 is a transverse enlarged sectionon line X X of Fig. 2. Fig.5 is an end view of two grate-bars in position, with movable choppers placed therebetween, showing the manner of supporting the same.

The grate or fire bar shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is made of any convenient length and width, with round or curved top, and consists of side wings B B, with the open space 0 between them bridgedat proper intervals, as shown at D D, Fig. 3, to prevent lateral Fig. 3 is a vertical section v deflection and lend additional stiffness to the entire bar. The open space 0 thus formed in the longitudinal direction of the bar extends from bottom to top and'to within a tance of the center, at which points their edges extend downward vertically a short distance and then incline outward sharply for the remainder of their depth to the lower edges of the wings. The said teeth F F are arranged in staggered or zigzag orderthat is, the edge or point of one tooth is opposite the space 0 on the opposite side, as shown in Fig. 2. By thus distributing the air and causing a free circulation to every part of the bar it is fully protected from burning out, becoming warped or twisted, and owing to the upper surface, including the teeth of the bar, being curved ashes are prevented from accumulating.

It will be seen on referring to Fig. 4 that the inner sides of the wings B B, between the teeth F F, are sloped inwardlyat the upper part at an angle of sixty degrees for a short distance to the points it h and then inclined toward the bottom edges, the object being to increase the thickness of metal where it is most needed for strength and at the same time increase the depth of the opening or apertures O 0, so as to direct the current of air as nearly on a line with the top of the choppers as possible when the bars are in position, as shown in Fig. 5. The object in slanting the upper edges at an acute angle is also to prevent ashes lodging and filling up the openings O O.

The teeth F F form fuel-supporting points,

and in proportioning the air spaces or openings O 0 care should be exercised to have them of such area as to permit sufficient air to pass through and furnish the proper amount shown in Fig. 3, are made tapering, being wide at the bottom and narrow at the top in order to present thin edges at the fuel-supporting points to avoid the accumulation of ashes or other refuse matter, and they may consist of two or more,according to the length of the bar.

The bar is recessed at one end to accommodate'the overlapping portion of the adjacent bar to permit a hoe to pass over, and is supported upon suitable lugs, formed on transverse bearing-bars extending the width of the furnace, with lugs G G, depending from the extremities, for holding it in place, as previ ously described in my former patents heretofore referred to.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A hollow grate-bar consisting of the longitudinal side wings or flanges B B, with tapering partitions or bridges D D formed at intervals therebetween, and provided between said partitions and along the inner side of the wings with a series of teeth F F, the edges of which project to within a short distance of the center of the bar and then extend clownward on a vertical line a certain distance, thence incline outwardly to the bottom edges of said wings, with the upper edges of the wings and flanges between the teeth formed to slope inwardly to the points h h, from whence the sides gradually diminish in thickness, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES REAGAN. \Vitnesses: WM. A. SHRYOCK, WM. B. J ONES. 

